Ever since I was a kid, I’ve longed for a Superman concept I could really get behind. While the Christopher Reeves movies were fun, they portrayed Superman more simplistically and uncomplicated than his later reincarnations in animation would. Life just seemed too easy for him – and even as a kid, I never really bought into the “I wear glasses – nobody knows it’s me” disguise.

When “Smallville” first started, I didn’t even tune in at first, thinking it would be just another silly Superman do-gooder series. A couple of years later, someone bought me the first season as a gift – and I was instantly hooked.

In “Smallville” Clark’s life is a lot more complicated than it would become later on as Superman – even in the first episode. In that episode, he struggles with his feelings for a girl, Lana Lang (Kreuk) – and it turns out revealing his origin to her would be a mistake, as her parents were killed in the meteor shower that brought him to Earth. Toss in the fact that the relationship was inevitably doomed (she’s not Lois Lane, after all), and just that original complication had me wanting to stick around for more episodes.

The more episodes of Season 1 I watched, the better “Smallville” kept getting – especially in his developing friendship with Lex Luthor (Rosenbaum) (the man who would eventually become one of Superman’s most celebrated foes). Toss in Welling’s semmingly perfect fit as the man who would eventually become Superman and great cast additions in Allison Mack, Sam Jones III, Annette O’Toole, John Glover and John Schneider, and I couldn’t wait to see more.

Of course, with seasons the price they are ($45 and up), I couldn’t immediately go out and buy the next season. Instead, I’ve been lagging behind a couple of seasons for years. When a 2007 Thanksgiving Holdiay Sale brought me up to season 6, I knew I was getting closer.

Now that Season 8 is beginning, I’m finally going to be able to add the show to my DVR. Since Season 7 is now on DVD, I’ll soon be able to buy it and catch up on what I’ve missed (most likely before the end of the current season) – and have Season 8 all ready for me on the DVR.

Which means, hopefully, that 2009-10′s Season 9 will find me watching each episode when they are aired for the first time ever. I can’t wait!